U.S. Accuses Quintet of Plot to Deceive INS

Five people were indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to deceive immigration authorities by selling false documents to illegal aliens who do not qualify for amnesty.

Hilda Lopez-Flores, 32, a notary public from Calexico, notarized more than 2,000 form letters indicating that the aliens were employed in the United States as seasonal agricultural workers, according to U.S. Attorney Peter Nunez.

Three brothers from Imperial County, Juan, Jose and Miguel Lemus-Ledesma, signed the letters, certifying that the aliens had worked for them, and sold the letters to unqualified aliens for as much as $400 each, Nunez said.

A fifth person, Anibal Mesa-Canas, 41, of Holtville, also was charged in the conspiracy, but no information was available about her role.

Aliens may apply for amnesty if they were employed as seasonal farm workers for at least 90 days between May 1, 1985, and May 1, 1986.

The 39-count indictment charges that an undercover agent of the Immigration and Naturalization Service purchased a form letter from Juan Lemus-Ledesma for $350. Lopez-Flores notarized the letter and told the undercover agent to memorize the information contained in it, the indictment says. He was also told to have one of the brothers explain to him how the field work is done so that he would be able to deceive INS employees who might question him later, according to the charges.

Lopez-Flores and the three brothers face sentences of five years in jail and fines of up to $250,000 for each count.

Lopez-Flores is expected to surrender this week and Juan and Miguel Lemus-Ledesma are free on personal appearance bonds. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Jose Lemus-Ledesma, Nunez said.